ARLINGTON, Va. — The Clifford H. “Ted” Rees Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), has announced that $20,500 in scholarship funds will go to nine students in the HVACR and water heating trades; three instructors; and one student who applied via the new returning veterans program.

“Mr. Louis Alexander is the first scholarship recipient in our returning veterans program, and we are very proud to support him as he begins a new career in our industry,” said AHRI president and CEO Stephen Yurek. “These students are a shining example of the qualified, dedicated HVACR and water heating technicians we need to fill good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced, and the instructors we need to support and educate them.”

HVACR and Water Heating Technician Program Recipients:

• Richard Driesen, Perry Technical Institute

• Daniel Gretschmann, Blackhawk Technical College

• David Hall, Athens Technical College

• Joshua Hall, Ferris State University

• Chris Johnson, San Joaquin Valley College

• Eric Johnson, Ferris State University

• Ryan Johnson, Ferris State University

• Jason Olson, Grand Rapids Community College

• Chris Perez, Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Returning Veterans Program Recipient:

• Louis Alexander, Richmond Community College

Instructors Program Recipients:

• Floyd Azbell, Worcester Technical High School

• Luther Knouse, SCI Rockview

• Travis Snowden, Meridian Technology Center

Since it was founded in 2003, the Rees Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships to 121 deserving students and instructors.

Publication date: 4/8/2013